Official 2016 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread

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Transposony

Transposony

Do or do not, There is no try
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plasmodium said:
Good luck! Looking to do as best as I can! How have you been doing with NBMEs?
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I tend to do better on the UWSAs than the NBMEs, so am hoping the exam is more like it. UWSAs were in the mid 90's, and NBMEs were between 265-275. But I'm worrying the real deal won't be anything as similar, especially with possible timing issues. How are you preparing for possible timing issues?
 
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TheNsg300 said:
I tend to do better on the UWSAs than the NBMEs, so am hoping the exam is more like it. UWSAs were in the mid 90's, and NBMEs were between 265-275. But I'm worrying the real deal won't be anything as similar, especially with possible timing issues. How are you preparing for possible timing issues?
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I'm confident in my test-taking strategy, so I'm not really doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the timing issues. Great scores, by the way!
 
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TheNsg300 said:
Same boat here, exam in 10 days!!! I was gunning for a ridiculous score but I'm thinking it's all luck from now on. What scores you guys looking for?? @plasmodium @Tri723 @drimo786
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Umm...your scores are some of the highest i've heard of in preparation. You should be fine. Be confident in your preparation. Even if the real deal isn't like the exam, scoring takes difficulty into account and everyone who takes those questions has to deal with that twist.
 
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TheNsg300 said:
I tend to do better on the UWSAs than the NBMEs, so am hoping the exam is more like it. UWSAs were in the mid 90's, and NBMEs were between 265-275. But I'm worrying the real deal won't be anything as similar, especially with possible timing issues. How are you preparing for possible timing issues?
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DAMM DANIEL 🙄. kill it all of you, goodluck folks.
 
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tasar1898 said:
Haha I feel like a ****** compared to @plasmodium @TheNsg300 .. GOOD LUCK GUYS!!
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Ok Mr. 260+ on the real deal 🙂

I can get great NBME/UWSA scores all day but it means nothing unless I can prove that I can do it when it matters.

chillaxbro said:
How have you been studying?? 270?? I'm rarely getting over 66 on Uworld blocks
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In my case, I attribute 100% of any USMLE-related success that I might achieve to my studies during MS1/MS2.
 
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plasmodium said:
Ok Mr. 260+ on the real deal 🙂

I can get great NBME/UWSA scores all day but it means nothing unless I can prove that I can do it when it matters.


In my case, I attribute 100% of any USMLE-related success that I might achieve to my studies during MS1/MS2.
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Then I am boned
 
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worldbeater said:
Do a block. Then review the incorrects first. Match it to the page in your reading source. Figure out what is the connection you missed from your reading source to what the answer is correct and write down the link. Then review your corrects. Any corrects you got right by chance, match it to your reading source and write it down if you wish. Rinse and repeat.

The goal is to find the happy medium between alotting enough time to do multiple blocks per day, to spending enough time to review your incorrects so you wont make the same mistake in the future.
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To follow up on this, how should I be doing UWorld questions at the beginning of dedicated? As in, blocks of 44 followed by review of everything, or timed tutor mode and review after each question?

I've been using other Qbanks as a learning tool so I do a question and then read the explanation immediately after. It speeds up the review as compared to doing 44 questions straight and then reviewing all of them at once.
 
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augeremt said:
To follow up on this, how should I be doing UWorld questions at the beginning of dedicated? As in, blocks of 44 followed by review of everything, or timed tutor mode and review after each question?

I've been using other Qbanks as a learning tool so I do a question and then read the explanation immediately after. It speeds up the review as compared to doing 44 questions straight and then reviewing all of them at once.
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In my opinion, UWorld during dedicated should be done in 44-question blocks on random, timed mode.
 
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augeremt said:
To follow up on this, how should I be doing UWorld questions at the beginning of dedicated? As in, blocks of 44 followed by review of everything, or timed tutor mode and review after each question?

I've been using other Qbanks as a learning tool so I do a question and then read the explanation immediately after. It speeds up the review as compared to doing 44 questions straight and then reviewing all of them at once.
Click to expand...

plasmodium said:
In my opinion, UWorld during dedicated should be done in 44-question blocks on random, timed mode.
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Exactly. If your in dedicated, that means you can count the number weeks out from your exam I am guessing? So you want to replicate the exam as close as possible. The easiest way to do that is via random, timed mode. It will build your stamina as well. Review as described above. Generally, the most motivated kids ahead of me were doing 2 blocks/day, which took them about 5 hours ([1 hour to do each block + 1.5 hours to review] x 2). They started at 7:30 AM to replicate the exam and would finish their blocks by lunch. After lunch would be their time to read their reading material and review their high yield stuff. If you do the math for UWorld they are about 2400 questions. Divide that by 88 questions per day and it will take about 27 days. If you can increase your number of questions per day, you can bring it down to about 3.5 weeks, which is pretty good. Hopefully your hitting the weighted average on UWorld at this point (like 60%).

You probably have about 2 weeks left at this point. Then for your 2nd round, you can do 4.5 blocks per day, and you can finish in 12 days, with Sundays off. The review will be faster and if you can get >75%, your in great shape with a corresponding good score on an NBME.

A lot of this is theoretical, obviously not all students do this, but it's something to aim for.
 
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worldbeater said:
Exactly. If your in dedicated, that means you can count the number weeks out from your exam I am guessing? So you want to replicate the exam as close as possible. The easiest way to do that is via random, timed mode. It will build your stamina as well. Review as described above. Generally, the most motivated kids ahead of me were doing 2 blocks/day, which took them about 5 hours ([1 hour to do each block + 1.5 hours to review] x 2). They started at 7:30 AM to replicate the exam and would finish their blocks by lunch. After lunch would be their time to read their reading material and review their high yield stuff. If you do the math for UWorld they are about 2400 questions. Divide that by 88 questions per day and it will take about 27 days. If you can increase your number of questions per day, you can bring it down to about 3.5 weeks, which is pretty good. Hopefully your hitting the weighted average on UWorld at this point (like 60%).

You probably have about 2 weeks left at this point. Then for your 2nd round, you can do 4.5 blocks per day, and you can finish in 12 days, with Sundays off. The review will be faster and if you can get >75%, your in great shape with a corresponding good score on an NBME.

A lot of this is theoretical, obviously not all students do this, but it's something to aim for.
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As mr knowitall accurately stated and just for reference, my 76% UW avg first time equated to 255+ on real deal. Bless up 😀
 
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I would aim higher than 60% on your first pass of UWorld. A thorough and strong first pass is arguably more important than repeating the QBank a second time.
 
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plasmodium said:
I would aim higher than 60% on your first pass of UWorld. A thorough and strong first pass is arguably more important than repeating the QBank a second time.
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I agree, that would be ideal.

The real question is, to get to 75% on your first pass of UWorld, how many practice questions from other banks would a student have to do beforehand? All banks, whether it's World, Kaplan, Rx, Weapon, test the same clues and concepts. It's like batting practice, your refining your swing over and over again against a variety of pitches. But how many reps do you need? I am curious what your guys thoughts are.
 
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worldbeater said:
I agree, that would be ideal.

The real question is, to get to 75% on your first pass of UWorld, how many practice questions from other banks would a student have to do beforehand? All banks, whether it's World, Kaplan, Rx, Weapon, test the same clues and concepts. It's like batting practice, your refining your swing over and over again against a variety of pitches. But how many reps do you need? I am curious what your guys thoughts are.
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Everyone is different so this is obviously an opinionated statement, but I firmly believe that success with QBanks, NBMEs, UWSAs, and the USMLE primarily has to do with foundation developed during MS1/MS2 (give or take a few anomalies).
 
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darthyoda said:
I'm new to SDN so haven't gotten a hang of searching forums and stuff but I was wondering how people felt post step 1?

I got a 242 (3 weeks out) on NBME 13 and a 254 on NBME 15 (1 week out) (74% UWORLD first pass average) but after I took the real thing I felt so ****ty, the adrenaline was overwhelming and nothing I could have prepared for. I felt like I had maybe 5 or 6 gimmes, 5 wtf and the rest were reasoning between 2 or 3 answers on each block. I just didn't feel as confident as I did on the practice exams. Quite honestly felt really horrible leaving and I have now realized I made a couple stupid mistakes. It felt way harder than the NBMEs and UWORLD.
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If it makes you feel any better. I felt the same way. I hear that is a normal feeling. Just put it out of your mind for now because there is nothing more we can do but wait.
 
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I need to make a note to stop reading this thread, I feel more stupid and demoralized every time I browse these posts.
 
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Derivations said:
I need to make a note to stop reading this thread, I feel more stupid and demoralized every time I browse these posts.
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It is not mine, nor is it anyone else's intention to make you feel this way. This is an open board and the students who have been consistently visiting this thread for the past few months like to keep each other updated on their progress. If you feel you aren't where you want to be, feel free to ask a question and any number of the experienced students in this thread will be more than happy to try to help you get to a level where you aren't feeling demoralized. I'm sure you aren't in that bad of a position!
 
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Derivations said:
I need to make a note to stop reading this thread, I feel more stupid and demoralized every time I browse these posts.
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For me this thread works in another way. I find inspiration here when I feel tired or discouraged. I see that everybody here works really hard, nobody gets high scores just by luck. The understanding of this gives me strength to continue.
 
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NBME 18 is available for purchase.

jdNKt3x.png

What does this mean?
 
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Transposony said:
Means that NBME 18 will give your more realistic assessment of the Step 1 score.
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I wonder if it will be harder to achieve 250+ on the new form. In other words will the curve be more strict?



Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
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Given the choice between UWSAs and NBMEs, which ones would you guys recommend taking? Should I do all the NBMEs, or 4 NBMEs and 2 UWSAs for example? Or fewer in general.
 
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IMO you shouldnt do NBME's that close to the exam .. It just gets you freaked out even if you get a decent score .. ''OH MY GOD WHAT ABOUT THIS QUESTION , BETTER LOOK IT UP ... DAMN I DONT KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT HEREDITARY POLYNEUROPATHIES , I WILL FAIL MISERABLY!! ''

I won't even go near the possibility of seeing a score drop like 2-3 days away from step 1 time... so just keep loving your FA and save the bucks for the post-step 1 party
 
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NBME 18 is far and away the hardest NBME. Be careful taking this exam if you are a few days out. Based on the ambiguity and obscurity of the questions, I'm assuming it's pretty representative of the real exam, though.
 
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plasmodium said:
NBME 18 is far and away the hardest NBME. Be careful taking this exam if you are a few days out. Based on the ambiguity and obscurity of the questions, I'm assuming it's pretty representative of the real exam, though.
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How much of an overlap did you see between 18 and the full 2400+ questions presented in UWorld?
 
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About 4 weeks out from dedicated. Trying to decide where to place UWSA's. I plan on doing UWSA 1/2 and NBME 16-18. Don't know whether to do early for potential learning points, or late for confidence boost. I just feel like if I get 240s to begin with UWSA and then see a score drop on NBMEs I'll be demoralized, even though it should happen based on their overprediction
 
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Tri723 said:
Did the scoring "account" for the level of difficulty?
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Not sure how to answer this. It was incredibly hard and I did worse on this than my recent increases on 16/17.

worldbeater said:
How much of an overlap did you see between 18 and the full 2400+ questions presented in UWorld?
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Also don't know how to answer this. Very little overlap, many unique questions, and a lot of those clinical scenarios asking "what you would do next" that people keep mentioning have been introduced to the real exam.
 
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Ophthoseidon said:
About 4 weeks out from dedicated. Trying to decide where to place UWSA's. I plan on doing UWSA 1/2 and NBME 16-18. Don't know whether to do early for potential learning points, or late for confidence boost. I just feel like if I get 240s to begin with UWSA and then see a score drop on NBMEs I'll be demoralized, even though it should happen based on their overprediction
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Uworld practice tests had their curves readjusted in the last few months. I'd say they are more accurate or even slightly under predict now.
 
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